Story Of Wearables For Awareness

 A Sufficiently Delightful First Impression 

User Friendliness

 I've discovered both that Charge HR itself as well as the mobile app to be quite user-friendly overall. The process of setting it up was quite simple; the package included with an online link for the setup process to begin. The link allows you to download the Fitbit application for your personal PC, and the application will prompt you to fill in information about yourself , so that the app is able to monitor your activities. For instance, setting clock on fitbit charge uses your height to determine the distance you traverse by multiplying your height (and consequently an estimation of the length of your stride) by the number of steps you take to calculate your total length. ( Yes, I have looked this up. Further on whether or not I believe in the accuracy of this in the future!) The computer application and the mobile app explain how to utilize the device, how to charge the device and how to connect the device. 

Design/Comfort

 I'm really enjoying the look that my charge HR has. I love the plum hue I'm not convinced it's too bright or bulky. I've had no problems with the wristband to date There have been reports of people experiencing an allergic reaction of sorts to the material that is used in Fitbit wristbands however I've been fortunate to not encounter this myself.

 Battery

 I'm actually quite happy with my battery's life of the Fitbit Charge HR. This is a bit surprising since I was not sure I'd get a long battery life following my experiences with my Fitbit Flex (the Flex battery was only good for a day or two at the most). I actually put down my Flex due to the fact that I was tired of constantly charging it and a small part of me wondered what it would work with the Charge HR. I'm pleased to report that I've never found that charging Charge HR's batteries to be difficult. The battery's lifespan is five to seven days, which I consider to be a great thing. The charging cable is plugged inside the Fitbit (as as opposed to it being plugged into the Flex, with which I needed to take the Fitbit from the wristband to connect it to the device which isn't a big issue, but an inconvenience). It took about an half hour to charge and after that, I'm ready to start again. The user interface shows clearly when the battery is beginning to get low and I appreciate that it informs me about this ahead of time (even for a whole day) before the battery goes out. 

I haven't had an entirely dead Fitbit until now. When the battery is at a critical level it's UI displays an indicator for the battery with an exclamation mark inside of it, which for me signifies, "I'm dying! Get me charged immediately." If the battery is low but not crucial the UI will display the statistics of my steps distance, heart rate, distance and so on. However, when the battery is extremely low, it does not show those numbers. There were occasions during a restarting fitbit charge hr Challenge that my battery was at a critical low due to the fact that I left my charger at work and was concerned that Sir Bit would not record my steps. However, I was mistaken! It was still recording my steps, even though the battery was extremely low. Although I was unable to view the steps in the screen on the gadget, I was able to connect the device to my phone and be able to see my steps through Bluetooth. It's amazing how slow the battery cycle procedure is but not too intrusive. One last note... After I've charged my device and then unplug it, a humorous/motivating message is displayed in a short time on my screen. It is hilarious and has been different every time. It's fun charging!

 Screen/Interface 

The display on the device is tiny, however the single button scrolls through the five to six (depending on the type of information that the user would like to be able to see) information points that the device gathers. I can see the complete analysis as well as my stats' past history in the mobile app. When I double-tap the device, it displays the time (which can be set to display a different data point if I wish to) I do like the fact that it can double as a watch , since I don't have to check my phone in order to find information about the current time. This is a nice feature. If the battery begins to get low The screen of the device gives me an indication ahead of time and provides me with a clear message about the time when the battery is beginning to get low (shows the symbol of a low battery and allows me to continue to scroll through data points by pressing the button) and in the event that my battery has become extremely in the low range (shows an empty indicator for the battery with an exclamation mark and will not allow me to scroll through the data points until the device is fully charged). 

The App 

The Fitbit app functions as an app that provides me with an overview of my day's activities and the data collected, with the option to go deeper into the specifics for each category. The layout is attractive and I can locate the information I'm looking for quickly. The information is fairly comprehensive, however I sometimes cannot see the level that I'd prefer to. In the past, for instance, I've attempted to drill down into the specifics of my heart rate over the day. The scale is 24 hours, however the only data points that it displays in the chart are noon, midnight, and 11:59 pm during the day. It isn't possible to zoom in on any particular portion of the day when my heart rate increases at a specific period of time. This would be ideal for me if would like to examine it with the calendar of the day. Another solution I've discovered is using the exercise timer feature. 

You can hold and press the device's button to begin the exercise clock. In the meantime the device will be recording everything I do. But it does put a timeframe around each activity it records and once I hold and press the button to notify that the device I've finished exercising I can record the type of activity in the app and see the heart rate data for the time period I selected. This is a great feature to record things like cycling that don't show up on the device's counter for steps. I've used the exercise logger several occasions when I've been feeling stressed If I feel my heart rate has increased or I'm feeling anxious I'll set the timer for exercise. 

An Unexpected Shift in Interest Skepticism (okay it was to be to be) 

Despite my good experiences with the device as well as the application, I'm not certain whether I'm convinced of the information that the Fitbit is sending back to me (please be aware that I'm an skeptic in general). Here are some examples of my thoughts on the data: Charge HR claims that I've climbed 30 or more steps, but I'm fairly certain that this has not been the case on the time I've used it to date... Where did this originate? Did I bounce around excessively? I'm not tall (5'1") however, I'm faster than the majority of people, even if they're taller than me.

 If Fitbit calculates the distance I've walked using my stride's length multiplied with the number of steps I've taken, does this mean that the distance that's recorded by my device could actually be lower than the actual distance I've walked? Does each five foot" individual have the exact same length of stride? What does the green light measure my heart rate? Does it work? Science isn't sure what sleep means and what it means, do I trust the definition provided by fitbit charge hr battery indicator of sleep (a lower heart rate and a decrease in movement)? The Fitbit has been extremely accurate in determining the time I've gone to bed and awoken to find out... 

Due to my doubts, I've frequently been tempted to test the device. Sometimes, I'll switch on the step count while I'm walking to ensure that it's recording my entire steps (this is important only in step challenges with colleagues). I'll attempt to monitor my heart rate by recording my pulse , then looking at a timer to check if it's in line with my device. Sometimes, the device is accurate but sometimes it's not. My sleep data tells me that I've slept for four or five hours per night, highlighting the moments I've felt restless as well as when I've slept. Do I really not remember these dates, and do I sleep badly? Perhaps I'm sleeping better than what my device claims? These are only some of my concerns about the data I'm now interested in recording , not just for myself , but also for my colleagues who also have wearables. 

Existential Crisis

 Other issues I have are more philosophical than anything else... My main issue is that I'm quite skeptical about the concept that wearable tech is a thing. My biggest fear is that one day humans will be equipped with computer chips inside their bodies with GPS which tracks their exact location throughout the day or a system of communication that demands constant and instant response. That's why I am not a fan of being always connected and into the internet, even though I am noticing myself moving toward this due to the amount of time I spend every day on my phone.